S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry, Michigan, United States

5InCommandSigns 5:00 PM Jul 17, 2022

Summertime Mode of Transportation for many years!
The S.S. Badger; Lake Michigan Carferry has been a part of our family history for almost 3 decades! In 1990, my mother lived just 3 houses from the marina in Ludington, MI where the SS Badger docks, making it quite impossible to not know about the Carferry when it sounded its horn entering and leaving the harbor twice each day all summer. In 1994, when my husband and I accepted a job transfer to Appleton, WI, my Mom was distraught about the distance, however, Mom soon figured out that we lived just 40 minutes from Manitowoc and she mapped out a plan! For a number of years, at the beginning of each summer, we would take our old Buick to Ludington on the first sailing and leave it at Mom's place. Then, most weekends, my husband and I, and our baby would take the midnight boat from Manitowoc to Ludington on Friday nights. When we arrived at sunrise, we just put our little one in the stroller and walked the 3 blocks to my Mom's house where breakfast would be waiting. When I went into labor with baby #2, I called my Mom, then the Badger ticket office, and they waited the few extra minutes she needed. She ran down the street, pushing Great Grandma in the wheelchair. As soon as she came into view, a Badger attendant ran to meet her and help with the wheelchair and luggage. Then they gently got both Grandma's boarded, knowing exactly what all the hoopla was about. Over the decades, we have had surprise birthday banners on the railings of the Badger, my younger brother was: Little Master Carferry one year, and we have all brought many friends over to Ludington to enjoy the lovely town. My Mom's place is now the Family Vacation Home and 3 children, 7 grown grandchildren, and all of their spouses really enjoy the relaxation and fun that can be had in and around Ludington. But for MY family, it will always be about the SS Badger!

5Teacherbear 5:00 PM Aug 30, 2022

A voyage you should take
A voyage not to be missed! We decided to take this ferry as it meant we did not have to go around Chicago from Detroit on the interstates which are in complete construction modes. You can not go more then 10 miles without stopping. The check in for the ferry was so efficient and everything was explained very well. We had our dog with us and they went over the procedures for having a dog. Frist they indicated the dog car parking lot and indicate our car would be the last on but the first off. They drive all cars off and on which is fantastic. Also from the deck we could watch they drive our car and and put a sunshield on the windshield to protect the dog. We also noted they checked on the cars with animals quite often. We had breakfast on the ship and it was a nice buffet with limitless coffee. The ship has a store, movie lounge and games area. We decided to rent a stateroom a a very reasonable cost of $50.00 As we had been on the road since 4 AM it was great to have place to sleep. The rooms have a sink, toilet and two beds. The pillows were very comfortable and the room was quiet. Disembarking was very efficient and of course our car was first off and we were able to take right off. The crossing was very smooth as we had super weather All in all it is certainly worth the money as one relaxes, misses traffic and construction plus all the tolls.